County will take up government services tax increase next month

The Washoe County Commission is considering increasing the supplemental government services tax on vehicle registrations from 4 percent to 5 percent.

If ultimately approved, potentially next month, the tax would bring in $9.4 million a year, something proponents have argued is needed to help the county’s senior services. Critics have said the revenue from the tax increase isn’t necessarily earmarked for senior services and could be used to plug other holes in the county’s budget.

In November, three out of five voters struck down an advisory ballot question to increase the tax, which would represent a 25 percent fee increase on vehicle registrations. Average additional cost to a vehicle owner has been estimated at about $43 per year.

Commissioner Kitty Jung said the commission has had the ability to approve the tax increase for years and did not need to ask voters for permission, a tactic that was described by proponents for the increase as a political cover against raising the tax.

Jung said the county must pay for its senior services, which is reaching just 8 percent of the county’s growing population of people over the age of 60 — a population that is projected to reach 100,000 people by 2020.

“Frankly, I don’t see this as charity,” she said. “I see this as humanity.”

Commissioner David Humke expressed concerns about the looming “fiscal cliff” in Washington, which is threatening widespread austerity measures and tax increases starting in 2013 if no deal is made by the end of this year.

“To quote a very smart feller who was running for president a few years ago, you don’t raise taxes during a recession,” he said.